ABSTRACT
The Republic of Estonia is a sovereign state in the Baltic region of northern Europe. Sustainable enterprise does not have a long history in Estonia and is not deeply rooted in civil society. After the Soviet regime ended in 1991, many of the previously state-owned enterprises were converted into cooperatives and many of the state social services organizations were converted into non-profit organizations. Growing general awareness of environmental and societal problems and a wish to create a more sustainable life for present and future generations has been one of the main motivations stimulating the emergence of social/sustainable entrepreneurship. Several social enterprises deal with reducing waste, recycling, local food and other environmental issues. Social enterprises are widely perceived to have clearer, more immediate and more effective impacts than large state programmes with similar aims. Estonia does not have a specific legal form for social enterprises and while most social enterprises operate as non-profit associations or foundations, others operate as limited-liability companies.
